Propane vs. Natural Gas vs. Heating Oil: Windsor Home Heating Fuel Comparison
Families have a choice of fuels to choose from when it comes to heating. Heating Oil is the preferred choice in Windsor, used by 99,824 or 35% of homeowners. The 2nd most popular primary heating fuel for Windsor families is Propane, used by 57,954 homes (20%). The other homes are heated with Natural Gas (19%), Electricity (13%), Wood (11%), and Other (2%).
Windsor County Residential Primary Home Heating Fuel (No. of Households)
| Year | Natural Gas | Propane | Electricity | Oil | Wood | Solar | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 55,373 | 57,954 | 36,366 | 99,824 | 33,030 | 1,820 | 4,366 |
| 2024 | 56,646 | 56,523 | 33,651 | 101,281 | 30,344 | 1,660 | 4,241 |
| 2023 | 48,131 | 54,853 | 27,940 | 102,091 | 38,497 | 1,670 | 4,784 |
| 2022 | 50,240 | 51,520 | 24,105 | 105,894 | 36,184 | 1,106 | 6,886 |
| 2021 | 50,677 | 51,992 | 22,510 | 105,005 | 33,125 | 1,349 | 4,533 |
| 2020 | 49,752 | 50,131 | 19,616 | 106,832 | 33,799 | 948 | 4,630 |
| 2019 | 48,826 | 48,270 | 16,723 | 108,658 | 34,473 | 547 | 4,727 |
| 2018 | 47,328 | 44,423 | 14,122 | 108,961 | 40,731 | 819 | 3,930 |
| 2017 | 47,036 | 43,339 | 14,035 | 107,395 | 38,840 | 612 | 3,997 |
| 2016 | 46,388 | 42,621 | 14,097 | 106,498 | 39,455 | 571 | 3,822 |
| 2015 | 45,256 | 40,280 | 12,610 | 108,532 | 42,271 | 263 | 4,298 |
| 2014 | 43,091 | 38,116 | 11,250 | 115,387 | 43,828 | 179 | 4,258 |
| 2013 | 42,192 | 38,339 | 11,779 | 111,011 | 44,411 | 257 | 3,630 |
| 2012 | 41,601 | 38,497 | 12,532 | 114,708 | 46,051 | 206 | 3,749 |
| 2011 | 39,163 | 39,551 | 10,855 | 122,786 | 41,261 | 98 | 2,834 |
| 2010 | 41,357 | 35,529 | 13,667 | 122,832 | 38,777 | 122 | 3,182 |
Heating Oil (Fuel Oil) Use in Windsor
Heating oil has become less popular in Windsor. In the 8 years since 2017, the number of residents using heating oil dipped from 107,395 to 99,824, a 7% drop.
Propane vs. Natural Gas use for home heating in Windsor
Between 2017 and today, the number of houses using propane as the primary space heating fuel jumped from 43,339 to 57,954, a 34% change. Comparing 2017 and today, the number of homes using natural gas as the primary space heating fuel ramped up from 47,036 to 55,373, a 18% change.
Electricity use for home heating in Windsor
Electric heat pump systems for home heating are increasing in demand in Windsor. Since 2017, the number of homes heating with electricity shot up from 14,035 to 36,366, a 159% change.
Adoption of solar home heating systems in Windsor
Solar is the most environmentally friendly of all heating fuels. With an “active” solar heating system, liquid flows between solar panels on a home’s roof and a heat energy storage tank (similar to a hot water heater) in the basement. Today, 1,820 homes in Windsor are heated with active solar arrays. This is a 197% gain from 2017, when 612 homes used active solar heating.
Windsor County Heating Oil Trends
Last year, Windsor County homeowners purchased a total of 5 million gallons of heating oil.
Short Term Trends
Windsor’s overall oil usage changes annually based on the severity of the winter. As the temperature outside dips, homes’ boilers need to burn additional oil to maintain a constant interior temperature. Last winter, the average outside temperature in Windsor was 20.4°F, which was 6.4°F colder than the prior winter's average outside temperature.
Windsor County Average Winter Temperature
| Heating Season | Average Temperature |
|---|---|
| 2024 - 2025 | 20.4° F |
| 2023 - 2024 | 26.8° F |
Windsor County Homeowner’s Guide to Selecting an Oil Company
For Windsor homes heating with fuel oil, picking which of the 7 heating oil companies that serve Windsor can drastically impact the cost of home heating.
Full Service Oil Companies: Homeowners who are willing to pay a premium for a “set-it-and-forget-it” heating system select one of the 0 “full-service” oil companies that serve Windsor. Full service companies such as or offer families annual contracts which consist of a combined package of both automatic heating oil delivery and furnace repair. With an automatic fuel oil delivery contract, the company tracks your home’s oil consumption and makes deliveries when your tank is running low. The homeowner does not need to monitor the level of the oil tank or place individual orders.
Discount Oil Companies: Often called “COD Fuel” or “Cash Heating Oil” companies, discount oil companies are for families who are budget-conscious. With discount oil companies, in exchange for lower prices, you monitor the number two heating oil level in your tank, and you place an oil order when the oil gauge dips below a quarter tank. A few of the 2 Windsor cash heating oil companies serving Windsor include BART Energy Llc and Jam Fuel Llc.
Windsor Oil Company Fast Facts: Fuel oil Companies Serving Windsor: 7 companies .
Average Number of Windsor Homes Served per Fuel Oil company : 14261
Windsor Heating Oil Delivery Overview
99,824 residences in Windsor heat their homes with number two heating oil. This makes oil delivery essential, especially when Windsor temperatures drop as low as 12.6° F each winter. 34.6% of Windsor residences rely on number two heating oil delivery each winter.
17.2% of Windsor County Households Rely On Heating Oil Delivery Each Winter
| Windsor County Households | Windsor County Heating Oil Households |
|---|---|
| 579,101 | 99,824 |
34 Windsor Number Two Heating Oil Companies Serving The Community
With 92,108,924 gallons of number two heating oil delivered to Windsor homeowners during this past winter, the Windsor community relies on its 34 oil companies to keep their oil tanks full. Oil delivery has two parts to it: First, an oil truck picks up oil at the nearest bulk fuel terminal (also known as a “rack”). In the case of Windsor, two of the closest terminals are Sprague in Newington, NH and Apex in Rensselaer, NY. Then, the truck delivers the #2 heating oil to residences and companies throughout Windsor and the surrounding vicinity.
